The Will of the Gods is sometimes hard to follow for only they know the past and the future, those that are not Gods live in the present and see only what is before them and not what lies ahead.
From the Book of Isarie.
For three days and nights Kalgar-Rune had not slept nor eaten, now as the twin suns were about to vanish he sat alone on a ledge overlooking the Western Sea reading from the Holy Book, there was really no need to do this for he had long ago memorized each word of every line and could recall them without hesitation when needed but holding the sacred writings in his hand brought him comfort. Being a Thungodra he had no need to learn to read for they simply followed the will of the Holy Mother who was the speaker for Isarie and whose wisdom is beyond measure, but before being chosen as a guardian of truth, he spend his time at the side of his father who was an Elder of the Tribe and learned the skill of translating markings. Having the Holy Book in his possession violated the laws of his order for a Thungodra was meant to live without the burden of ownership save for their weapons and their armor but Kalgar had inherited the manuscript from his father and saw no harm in keeping the words of the Goddess near him.
There is only one truth he thought, and the Goddess has shown us the way. He put down the Rimar hide bound manuscript on a heavy rock near him and looked down at the great domes of the Akuna, they are the demons here, they do not follow the teaching of the Goddess and they will be punished for their sins, standing up he moved closer to the edge of the steep cliff knowing that any slight mistake would send him plummeting to the ground, he closed his eyes and his right foot balancing on the remaining one, if I have sinned take my life then he waited.
Nothing happened, and he slowly lowered his foot.
He stood there for a time knowing that the Goddess had chosen him to live, there could be no other explanation, he was meant to lead the Thungodra and keep safe the Holy Mother. An image of Egmar filled his mind but this time he did not drive it away as he had done countless times before, this time he embraced it. I was chosen to care for her and I will honor my oath. Once more he looked down at the domes and heard the singing of the revelers.
“They are the demons here” he said in a low voice, “they will be punished”, then something entered his mind, a single word that would change his world.
“When?”
Earlier that day Osh and Alune had returned the taken shell to the place where the old man had found it, they were unseen and the Touchtender breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that her companion would not be punished for his lack of knowledge in the laws of the tribe, and knowing that he would remain with her she took him to a secluded cove where the sound of the waves breaking on rock filled the air along with the cries of sea-birds and the smell of the ocean, it was a place that was frequented by the Akuna and the fragrant aroma of their bodies was still present. “There is your ink” she said pointing to a boneless creature lying in a pool of shallow water, “Carefully remove the dark sack behind the head but do not touch the tentacles for they carry a poison that burns like fire”.
Osh bent down to examine the many armed sea life, “Ah yes, a prime example of a Corartus-Melalie, it will do nicely”, then he realized that he had forgotten to bring a dissecting tool or any means of transporting the creature to their wagon, “It seems I will have to return later for my writing fluid”.
But Alune smiled and took a small clay pot from her robe along with a cutting knife, “Traveling with you has taught me many things the least of which is the fact that you are a very learned man who needs someone to care for him”.
Hearing this the Callaxion lifted his head and was about to reprimand the woman for suggesting that he was incapable of looking after himself, then he regarded her kind face and her warm eyes and something in the air made all thoughts of defiance leave his mind, she is correct, you do need tending then he smiled, “Yes, my head is filled with information but sometimes lacks wisdom”. Alune drew close to him and spoke in a soft voice, “And what of your heart, does it feel love?”
Osh was at a loss for words and before he could find them the Touchtender leaned over and kissed him gently on the mouth, perhaps it was the pheromones of the Akuna or maybe it was an emptiness in his heart that longed to be filled but for whatever reason the Callaxion did not turn away from the touch of the woman’s lips, and when at last they parted he stood there trying to understand the disturbing feelings that were racing through his body and mind. It is a modest reaction to an elevated heart beat brought on by an unexpected show of affection from a female. It was a simple, soulless, calculated explanation of the event that would be completely reasonable to a member of his species, then why did he wish to kiss her back?
Alune could see that her companion was having trouble finding words to express his feelings, men of this world or another are all the same, and reaching down she quickly removed the desired organs from the bottom dweller and put them into her bowl, “Shall we go now?” she asked smiling.
Osh did not want to leave for he hoped that there would be a repeat of lip-pressing but the logic side of his oversized brain overload his better judgment, “Yes” he said clearing his throat, “ there is much that needs doing” and saying nothing more they began walking towards the trading place of the Sea-people.
The Touchtender and the Callaxion spent the rest of the day interacting with the Akuna traders, the Outlanders had brought them the much-needed hardwood and would risk their lives in the hunt for the great Leviathans and in exchange the Wave-riders would give them goods in return. The main object of trade was Fish-sauce, the salty concoction of fish, herbs, spices and secret ingredients mixed together and placed in sealed clay pots, the Nomads loved this ocean gift very much but used it sparingly for it had to last them a whole cycle. Along with the tasty treat they traded shells and corals of all colors for the Outlanders wore them as prized possessions and traded them to other tribes for things they wish to have.
Alune was a hard trader for she knew the value of a pot of Fish-sauce and what she was entitled to as a member of the Almadra, she haggled for some time before she settled on just the right size containers with a taste that suited her discerning palate. Osh on the other hand saw a large sea shell much like the one he had returned and took it as his only payment, and as he carried it away he had to laugh knowing that just a short time before he would have been made Outcast for having such a shell and now he could show it proudly without any ill effect. And when they both returned to their wagon the suns was going down and the old man once again check to see if the girl had returned but he found the Karack empty, and spoke to the woman at his side.
“She has not returned” he said.
Alune could see the concern in his eyes and even though she feared the strange young girl she knew that she must help, “Tebor-Con was my third mate and a strong hunter, he taught me how to track quarry and if you wish to look for her I will come with you”. Osh knew nothing about tracking prey and understood from his calculations that the odds of finding her was very slim but he had been delegated the responsibility by Andra to look after her daughter and he did not wish to betray that trust. “The suns have set and the chances of finding her will be slightly better with the darkness, I wish to find her and any help you can give would be greatly appreciated”.
Alune reached into the wagon and took a handful of Grana from a small carry pot and tossed it on the ground, “an offering to the Goddess for her help in finding what we seek”.
Osh was about to say that such primitive rituals would not alter the mathematical predictions of a favorable outcome, but he stopped himself before he spoke and reaching in he also took a small portion of the green salt and threw it in the air then smiling he turned to the old woman, “lead the way”.
And so they set out to find the odd young girl and return her to the safety of her home.
Kalgar-Rune continued to pace back and forth with one word ringing in his head, when?, when?, when?, over and over, the demon
s are among us and I have been chosen to guard the Holy Mother, he moved to where his ax lay and took it up in his strong hands, this is the judgment of Isarie and he swung the Tooth back and forth in the warm night air, I will not be weak, I will be strong! He turned to see the great tent of the Holy Mother, she is righteous but what of her Handmaidens, he knew that demons could appear in many guises, and that they could hide themselves in even the purest of hearts, perhaps the servants of the Gods have been possessed by sin and have cast a spell over her? Soulseers, witches of the Outlands! How could he be sure they were who they appeared to be? “I cannot play Chance-cards when the fate of our tribe is in the balance, I must protect the Holy Mother and punish those that wish her harm”. Back and forth, back and forth.
“When?” he said out loud, “When will the sinful be punished and the righteous take their place under the stars?” he looked up at the night moons slowly making their way across the heavens, “they follow the will of Isarie, they are the children of the heavens” his voice began to rise in strength, “I have been chosen to guard her laws, when will the sinful be punished?” and he spread his powerful arms wide and shouted out in a voice that carried on the wind, “When?” then the answer flashed in his mind and answer as clear as the stars in the sky.
“NOW!”
And lowering his weapon he looked down on the city of the Akuna, “I will follow the will of the Goddess and those that have sinned will be punished”, and turning from the cliff he marched towards the tents of the Thungodra all the while calling loudly, “Gather your weapons, the enemy is here and we must fight!”
And hearing the words of their Leader the warriors of Isarie made themselves ready for war.
There was no thought of combat on the mind of Osh as he and Alune looked for any sign of Niana, the old man knew that she would not be in the great pleasure dome of the Akuna or likely to be anywhere near them for if they had seen her they would have sounded the alarm. She might have been in one of the caves cut from the rock by the waves so they decided to look for her along the sand but after several entering and exits they found only a few naked Outlanders and Akuna seeking a place from prying eyes to embrace.
“I fear we will not find her” the old man said, “Perhaps she has returned to where she was born?”
The Touchtender knew of the strange circumstances under which she came into this world for Osh had told her of his past and the time that he had spent as an Outcast and sought shelter in the Hollow Hills during the Burning Time and how the Off-world girl had given birth only to have that offspring taken from her and their time with the Norgonie and the return of that very same child to its mother.
“We must trust in the Goddess” Alune said, “Only she knows what is to come”.
“Perhaps you are right” Osh replied, “What will I say when the King and Andra return?”
This brought a smile to the face of the Touchtender, “As I have said you are a wise man and will think of something”, she leaned over and was about to kiss him once more when a sound was heard from the water.
Out in the bay the Emor grazed on water plants under the night sky, they lifted their massive heads grunting and hooting as they consumed great mouthfuls of succulent vegetation, then they stopped and began shaking their blubbery bodies and opening a space in the tangle of the huge herd. The water swirled and uplifted like some great creature was about to break the surface then a tower of water sprang into the air and dispersed leaving only a layer of calm. And from that mirror like sea a small figure began to emerge, it rose up and stood on top of the water like some shimmering Pond-strider.
As it drew nearer Osh could make out its features and knew that it was Niana who had risen from the water, how could she survive under the sea for so long? The pressure, the dangers, the..? Then he shook his head, foolish man, she is a creature beyond even your understanding.
The reaction from the Touchtender was very different for seeing a girl rise from the water then walk upon it without effort only brought fear to her mind, how can she do this? She must be a demon who has escaped the Pit of Marloon.
The two humans watched as the young girl drew near them, one with wonder in his mind the other with fear in her heart.
Niana walked from the sea and stood before the old man and the woman, she was taller than before and naked but her body was not that of a human any longer, it shimmered with crystal-like scales reflecting the light from the night moons and her eyes were green portals that seemed to reach into your soul. Her head was elongated with crystalline shafts rising up half an arm’s length or more adding to her unnatural stature, her slender fingers had also grown in length and as she walked her feet left no impression in the soft sand.
“Do not fear me” she said in a voice filled with compassion, “I will not harm you, I have returned to do that which must be done”.
Osh gazed at the crystal woman with many thoughts racing through his ordered mind, she has mutated, her body structure must be based on carbon but it is rejecting organic life for a mineral one, “ wwwwe thought you had gone” the old man’s voice could not help but stammer for he too felt fear.
Niana drew closer to them and watched as they pulled away from her, “You fear me but I have come back to care for you, a time is coming that will test your souls but Eairla will save us all”.
“Eairla?” the Callaxion said, “Who is Eairla?” But there was no answer to the old man’s question and the crystal woman began walking towards the great domes, “WAIT!” Osh cried out, “If the Akuna see you they will harm you”.
The strange woman turned to him and smiled, “I must do that which must be done” and continued on her way.
Osh and Alune watched her going, “We cannot let her go alone” the old man said, “I promised to look after her and I will not break that promise”, the odds predict disaster, perhaps you are just a foolish old man after all? The Touchtender understood the dangers that lay ahead but she had also taken an oath to care for all living creatures and despite her fears she would honor that vow, “I care for you and if the will of the Gods say that we must perish then I will stand by your side as we enter the Afterlife”.
Osh had never told any woman that he loved her for he had never loved any woman, it was a simple fact and therefor he had never seen any reason to say those words, but now the universe had conspired to place him on just the right planet at just the right time to find that one female that the word “love” might hold some meaning.
“I do not believe in an Afterlife” he said softly, “But as you say I have much to learn and if there is such a place as you speak of I would be very content to spend the rest of eternity there with you.”
Alune had been told many times by many men that they loved her, some by simply bringing her food in the tradition of the Outlands, other shouted the word as they were engaged in sexual acts with her, and still there were some who spoke that word with their eyes and gifts in their hands, but she had never heard a more elegant way of saying what was in a man’s heart then that, “Then let us travel that road together” she said and taking his hand in hers they followed after the shimmering woman leaving two set of footprints in the sand.
The attack on the great dome of the Akuna was swift and deadly, the Thungodra were well trained and their heads were not filled with Dral and Po as were the revelers who they now looked upon as enemies of the Goddess. They moved quietly down to the water and across the bridge that linked the huge structures to land, there were few that apposed them for who would have imagined that danger would come from the followers of Isarie who had taken a pledge to protect the tribe and the Holy Mother from harm. It was only when they entered the pleasure dome that an alarm was sounded but by then it was too late for the all but naked Outlanders had placed their weapons on racks near the entrance and it was the first place the holy warriors attacked. But even without their ax’s the Almadra warriors fought back!
“We have been betrayed!” a warrior called out.
“The
Thungodra have turned against us!” cried another.
Kuno who had been busy with two of the Akuna females rose up and holding a large drinking cup in his thick hand as a weapon he leaped upon one of the dark armored guardians and struck him in the face sending blood and Dral flying through the air, then laughing he turned to another and kicked out with his legs bending the man’s leg armor and cracking the bone beneath.
But not all of the fighting was done by the Nomads for there were many strong Akuna of both sexes who joined ranks with the Outlanders and added their speed and strength to the battle. Food and drink mixed with blood from all sides covering the ornate floor and the fountain that sat at the center of the chamber turned red as bodies floated in its water. Although the Outlanders and Akuna outnumbered the Thungodra two to one they could not win for they lacked their strong armor and ax’s but being who they were they would have rather died then surrender.
Kuno knew this better than any warrior for he fought beside the King many times and was ready to die if the battle was lost, but he was also chosen by Arn to guard his people in his absence and seeing that the Angel of Death would surely take them all he stood up on a stout table and called out so that all could hear.
“Lay down your arms, I say this as your acting King!” At first the Outlanders ignored his command and he shouted out once more, “Stop! I command you!” this time the Nomads turned to look at the blood-stained face of the Captain of the Spikebacks, “The Golden Hall of Isarie waits for us all but not for those who go against the commands of their King, lay down your arms!”
One by one the Almadra and the Akuna stopped fighting and the Guardians of Isarie bound the hands of the Nomads and the Akuna and seeing that the battle was won the Thungodra allowed a few to care for their injured and soon the great dome grew silent save for the moans of the dying and the prayers that rose up for the gravely wounded.
Egmar had been praying in her chambers for she was certain that the life of her eldest child had ended, gone now she thought, Agart, Seeda and now Arn, all gone, she was alone, all her children taken from her, there was nothing that remained of them save for the metal head of her lost child. She looked over at the grotesque relic knowing that it was all she had left of her family. The will of Isarie is sometimes hard.
“You must go!” cried one of the servants of Isarie as she pulled back the curtain to the sacred quarters, “They bare weapons and will harm you”.
“Who is coming?” the Holy Mother asked thinking that a rival tribe had somehow broken thru her loyal warriors.
“The Thungodra,” the Handmaiden gasped, “They come to destroy us all!”
Egmar rose from her knees and stood dumbfounded for a moment or two, “I am the speaker for the Gods, they will not harm me”, and then she looked into the eyes of the young girl and saw that they were filled with terror and the robe of the Handmaiden was streaked with fresh blood.
Covering herself in a simple robe she started her escape then something caused her to take up the metal head of her lost child and hiding it under her garment she left the chamber.
Cries of pain and terror filled the air along with smoke as braziers where overturned and ancient tapestries caught fire; all thoughts of their sacred oaths were forgotten as the Thungodra searched for the Holy Mother and at their head was Kalgar-Rune.
“Find her!” he shouted, “Save her from the wicked!”
Egmar hurried from the tent as her Handmaidens sacrificed their lives to protect her, seeing them fall tore at her heart and she longed to die with them but something drove her onward and with smoke filling her lungs and tearful eyes she passed through a small opening at the back of the great tent and into the night. Coughing and feeling the sting in her eyes she stumbled through flaming bits of debris falling from the sky all the while hearing the screams of the dying and the shouting of warriors. At last she made it to the cliff overlooking the great domes and saw the chaos below.
How can this be? She thought and looking up at the sky she called out with tears in her eyes, “Isarie, why have you forsaken us?” then she heard a reply that she was not expecting.
“Do not put your trust in the Gods” it said.
Through her weeping Egmar saw Dennor standing near her, “Sister?” her voice filled with emotion, “What are you doing here?”
“Did I not say that I would see you again?” she said smiling, “and it seems that I have come at the right moment to save you”, and taking her by the hand she led her away into the night.
Kalgar-Rune stood outside the burning tent surrounded by his loyal warriors, “Find the Holy Mother” he screamed and knowing that she was not among the dead he turned and quickly marched towards the great domes followed closely by shouting guardians.
The space near the causeway was filled with Nomads and Akuna Elders and those that were not warriors for the Thungodra had rounded them up so they might be watched in case there were demons among them. Ironworkers, Weavers, Musicians, Potters, all the remaining members of the tribe of the Almadra were there mixed with the people of the sea, some cried while others stood frozen with fear. The Thungodra surrounded them holding weapons and torches and none dare move for it would have meant certain death.
Niana seemed oblivious to the bedlam around her and continued to move to the very heart of the rebellion, a short distance behind her walked Osh and Alune doing their best to go unnoticed in the confusion, the two humans held each other close taking comfort in the fact that they were together. The Touchtender’s heart cried out at seeing the wanton destruction of life and being the Cup-sharer she was she longed to help those in need but she realized that it would be a futile attempt as long as the fighting continued. My poor people she thought, but what can I do?
Osh also felt for those around him but he understood that violence breeds violence and the killing madness had taken hold of the Outlanders and it must run its deadly course, it is the price we pay for being human. Then as the crystal woman drew nearer the conflict the Thungodra began to point at her and shout in many voices.
“It is a demon from the Pit!”
“Destroy the monster before it destroys us!”
“Isarie save us from this creature!”
And those words were echoed by the Nomads and the Akuna for although they were now prisoners of the Holy Warriors they still looked upon the woman as a thing that should be destroyed, but none dared to be the first to strike a blow and they made a pathway for the bizarre looking woman as she moved forward but all the while cries of hatred filled the air as blooded weapons pointed her way. Niana said nothing and stood calmly as they began pelting her with small stones and anything else they could find at hand all the while shouting more insults to her.
“She is not one of the Chosen!”
“Isarie would not create such a thing!”
Osh and Alune melted into the mass of people for all eyes were now fixed on the strange woman and knowing that they had made a vow to stand by her they could not bring themselves to come to her aid.
It would be suicide the Callaxion thought; they would kill me in their rage.
What can one old woman do against such hated Alune told her mind.
They stood together hoping that others would have the strength to intervene, but none did.
Finally, a voice was heard above the outcry, a voice that the Thungodra obeyed.
“What is this thing?” Kalgar cried seeing the strange woman before him, then as he gazed at her in the glowing torch light a sudden realization struck him hard, the demon herself, the one that I was chosen to destroy! Holding his bloodstained ax he moved close to her and looked into her glowing green eyes, “Tell me demon, tell me the names of those under your spell!”
But Niana said nothing.
This made the rage inside Kalgar rise up even more, “What have you done with the Holy Mother, tell me or you will die!”
But again, the crystal woman refused to speak.
“Bring wood and oil and a stout p
ole” the leader of the Thungodra shouted, “She will speak or she will perish!”
Following his commands several of his warriors fell upon some wooden barrels and hacked them into pieces with their ax’s then taking up the fragments they carried them to wear a heavy pole had been sunk in the soft earth and piled the wood around it.
Osh watched and heard what was said and he understood what was about to happen and taking Alune by the arm he tried to pull her away, “We must go now” he said trying to be heard over the cries of anger around them.
For a moment, the Touchtender couldn’t understand what was going on, then she saw the look of fear in the eyes of her companion and the great mound of wood and the pots of oil that was being carried to it she a last understood, “They cannot burn her, they cannot!” tears began to fall from the eyes of Alune and she shook her head in dismay, “She is not a demon, they must not harm her!”
But that is just what Kalgar-Rune wished for he knew that only fire could send a demon back to its home in the Pit of Marloon, and looking to see that his orders were obeyed he smiled and spoke to the demon once more, “You will not speak so you will die!” he said pointing to the mound of wood.
Then Niana nodded her head and whispered in a voice that only he could hear, “I must do what must be done, as you must do what is commanded of you”.
A strange feeling fell over the mind of the Thungodra leader, he seemed to be standing on a cliff overlooking a deep abyss, above him hung the moons of Gorn, below him was only darkness, what must I do? He asked his mind, and then an image of Egmar flashed before his inner eye and suddenly he knew what path to follow, “BURN HER! He shouted.
And ceasing the crystalline woman they tied her to the pole with strong rope and pouring oil on the dry wood they flung a torch into its center and instantly a great wall of flame rose up engulfing the demon from the pit!
“NOOOOOOO!” cried out Alune but no one heard her above the cheers of the Outlanders and Akuna for they saw her only as a monster and could not see what was in her heart.
Higher and higher the flames rose, a shimmering torch of fire sending out a warm glow on those watching the carnage, the dry wood crackled and popped and embers lifted into the sky and through the flickering inferno Niana stood like a statue. She did not cry out in pain or show any sign of fear as her body became blackened with heat and smoke, the glowing aura surrounding her body began to fade and shafts of light shot from jagged cracks that were breaking all over her crystal skin. A strange humming radiated from the bonfire the sound of which cannot be put into words, suffice to say it filled the ear with a murmuring that seemed to reach into the mind and heart; it was if all creation was gathering together to morn a loss.
A strong wind began to blow out of nowhere as thunder clouds gathered overhead but they were not the color of mist or vapor, they shimmered with rainbow colors casting brilliant flashes of red, blue and green on the land below. Out in the inner cove the rising waves broke hard on the shore causing the Emor to run from the water and seek shelter inland. The ground started to shake and lightening flashed in the heavens, then great bolts of energy exploded from the bonfire shooting upwards in shafts of blue and green and the blast sent Nomads and Akuna fleeing for their lives.
“RUN!” shouted Osh pulling the Handmaiden by the arm, and stumbling and turning the Callaxion and Alune made their way through the terrified masses and into the night.
The only one who did not flee was Kalgar-Rune for he stood braced against the wind watching the sacrificial fire and knowing that he had made the right choice.
I have destroyed the evil among us he thought; I have followed the will of the Gods.
Chapter 23.
The Storm.
Nomads The Risen God Page 31
